New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, suspended for a full year Wednesday for his role in a bounty system run on the team’s defense from 2009-11, refuted the NFL’s allegations in a statement Wednesday and vowed he will fight the suspension.
In the statement, shared in full by ESPN, Vilma says:
“I never paid, or intended to pay, $10,000, or any amount of money, to any player for knocking Kurt Warner, Brett Favre or any other player out of the 2009 Divisional playoff game, 2010 NFC Championship Game or any other game.
“I never set out to intentionally hurt any player and never enticed any teammate to intentionally hurt another player. I also never put any money into a bounty pool or helped to create a bounty pool intended to pay out money for injuring other players.”
The NFL made the charges involving bounties on Warner and Favre in announcing its suspension of Vilma on Wednesday.
Vilma goes on to say he will “fight this injustice,” but doesn’t specifically mention an appeal. His suspension is effective immediately and will end after the 2013 Super Bowl in New Orleans.
Related topics: bounty, Jonathan Vilma, New Orleans Saints, NFL
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canoeman79
MOP May 02, 2012 at 4:58PM
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Nice words, but they are uttered by the guilty, and the innocent alike. But, if I was in his shoes I would be very likely to file an appeal. He’s at a point of his life where he has only a short shelf life. The older you get, the harder it is to keep your edge. If he’s innocent, I wish him luck. If he’s guilty, he should apologise, and take his punishment. This is sending out a clear message for other players about this type of activity.
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bullytiger
bullytiger May 02, 2012 at 8:38PM
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Dude….(MOP) First of all, why are you talking about “If I was in his shoes I would be very likely to file an appeal.” Yourdumbass could never be in “his shoes” I’m betting that you are a lonely allerbammaer fan who wanted to be the first sabanist to comment on the story. You people make me sick. Where the heck is Charles when you need him?
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